Fairfield Osborn Preserve

February 20, 2015
0800 – 1300, sunny

Field trip to the Fairfield Osborn Preserve, with A Watershed Year freshman experience class. I hiked up to Kelly Pond with a group of students so they could collect field data for a research project. It’s quite a hike up to the pond, which is near the northern end of the preserve. Covered with Azolla Water Fern, the pond is a peaceful and lovely place to visit. The pond is also surrounded by Bulrush (maybe California), Coast Live Oak and California Bay. I also saw Spreading Rush and Dendroalsia Moss at this location.

To the north of the pond is more of the Oak Savanna so characteristic of our region.

Oak Savanna/Woodland

After leaving Kelly Pond, we made a quick stop at Turtle Pond, which is covered by Azolla and surrounded by Broad-leaved Cattail.

On the way back to the vans, we found some Scurfy Twiglet and California Slender Salamander.

Species List

  • Water Fern (Azolla filiculoides) Kelly Pond was covered almost entirely by rust-colored Water Fern.
  • Spreading Rush (Juncus patens) ID Uncertain; at Kelly Pond.
  • California Bulrush (Schoenoplectus californicus) ID Uncertain; at Kelly Pond.
  • Purple Needlegrass (Nassella pulchra) ID Uncertain; at Kelly Pond.
  • Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) At Kelly Pond.
  • California Bay (Umbellularia californica) At Kelly Pond.
  • Dendroalsia Moss (Dendroalsia abietina) At Kelly Pond.
  • Scurfy Twiglet (Tubaria furfuracea) Found in the woods south of the Nature Center.
  • California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus) Found in the woods south of the Nature Center.
  • Broad-leaved Cattail (Typha latifolia) ID Uncertain; at Turtle Pond.

Let me know what you think!

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